Area anglers can attend "Bassmaster University," a highly-acclaimed course on bass fishing strategy that will take place in Roanoke on Jan. 17 and 18, 2004. Hosted by Continuing and Professional Education at Virginia Tech, the institute will be held at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood on Starkey Road just north of Route 419. "Bassmaster University" is presented by the Bass Anglers Sportsmans Society (BASS).

The two-day seminar is an accelerated course in bass fishing strategy. The program's faculty reads like a who's who of professional angling. The curriculum covers mainstream techniques such as plastic worms, crankbaits, topwater, flipping and pitching, and spinnerbaits. It also covers lesser-known techniques such as fishing the floating worm, finesse fishing, and electronics as well as advanced techniques for catching bass from mid-lake structures. Each pro will teach the techniques that he uses to fish most proficiently, with particular focus on his favorite approach for those times when the fish aren't biting.

Classroom instruction begins at 8 a.m. both days, and participants will attend 12 different workshop sessions during the two-day event. Formal sessions end at 3 p.m. on both days, but participants are invited to attend a "think tank" question and answer session with instructors until 3:30 p.m.

Enrollment fee for the two-day event is $99. Spouses and children under 16 accompanying a full-paying adult can attend for $50.

The 1998 BASS Masters Classic Champion Denny Brauer is one of the top instructors. Brauer also won the 1987 BASS Angler of the Year title and is bass fishing's all-time leading money winner, having won more than $1.5 million fishing for bass.

"Bassmaster University" has been educating America's bass fishermen for 30 years. The program started in 1973 under the name "Bass Fishing Techniques." In 1995, BASS purchased the program, and changed the name to "Bassmaster University" in 1999. The program has been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame for contributions to education and conservation.

Further information about this event is available by contacting Donna Raines in Continuing and Professional Education at (540) 231-5241.